"So I decided to challenge myself to develop my own game but never thinking that the game would ever be released, much less become so well-known RuneScape Gold," he tells GamesIndustry.biz. "I wanted to create something different from the standard idle game mold, something that was feature-rich and offered players option in the way they wanted to develop rather than simply increase the number of players on a daily basis.After tinkering with this idea while in a closed room I started to mesh ideas and mechanics from classic MMOs alongside the well-known idle game formula, creating something that can be played at leisure, in the car and fit into a player's busy lifestyle."

He adds: "While the numbers and stats aren't the things that all players enjoy the most about MMOs, it is what the hardcore fanbase tend to stick to after exploration is finished. Since it's typically central to what long-term players' attention is it's logical to make this an integral part of Melvor's game's design. Plus it meshes very well with design elements common in most idle games."

While he was influenced by other MMOs but the design that was the basis of RuneScape was one that he was particularly attentive to, laying out the world of Melvor Idle into a parallel universe with the 20-year-old RPG. "RuneScape became a key reference point for the game since it was such a crucial gaming experience for me" the author explains."Much like many, I started playing RuneScape due to the fact that a majority of my peers at the time was playing the game. Its being web-based was a big part of this. That low barrier to entry with RuneScape's scalar depth and complexity are what attracted me back to it for a long time and is what I wanted to replicate with Melvor Idle."

With Malcolm being candid about his inspirations when he was interviewed, word soon got to Jagex that fan-made game that was inspired by its own MMO. One employee reported the idea to Jagex's management OSRS Buy Gold, with manager of product development Chris Pfeiffer telling us his team was impressed with "how many achievements had been made and how much of it is in line to RuneScape."